A 6-Week Worksite Positivity Program Leads to Greater Life Satisfaction, Decreased Inflammation, and a Greater Number of Employees With A1C Levels in Range.

Abstract

To determine whether a 6-week Positivity Program could impact employee cardiovascular inflammation, blood sugars, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and/or life satisfaction. Pre- and post-study blood draw and life satisfaction questionnaire tracked changes in 10 cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers for 63 employees who participated in a 6-week Positivity Program comprised of three interventions: gratitude, HeartMath's Heart Lock-In, and yoga stretches with guided imagery. Improvements were recorded in life satisfaction as well as in seven of 10 cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers, including high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) (-27%), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (-1%), glucose (-2%), myeloperoxidase (MPO) (-5%), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2 (Lp-PLA2) (-9%), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) (-6%), and DHEA (1%). No improvements were recorded in cortisol (11%), small-dense LDL (sdLDL) (0%), or oxidized LDL (OxLDL) (7%). Data suggest that engaging in 6 weeks of a workplace Positivity Program may improve employee life satisfaction, blood sugar levels, and some markers of cardiovascular inflammation.